TITLE:
Laser Induced Changes of the Raman Spectra of Pristine and Poly(tert-Butyl Acrylate) Functionalized Carbon Nanotubes
AUTHORS:
Deokjin Yu, Charles W. Blackledge, James P. Wicksted
KEYWORDS:
Raman Spectroscopy; Functionalized Carbon Nanotubes
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Composite Materials,
Vol.4 No.2,
April
22,
2014
ABSTRACT: Pristine and poly(tert-butyl acrylate) (PTBA) functionalized carbon nanotubes are continuously exposed to 2.41 eV laser irradiation while collecting Raman spectra. The loss of the intensity of the radial breathing modes (RBMs) of small metallic PTBA functionalized nanotubes is less than that of pristine nanotubes. A reduction of the intensity of the G? band of pristine SWNTs occurs such that the overall shape of the G band evolves to resemble that of the PTBA functionalized sample. Complementing the measurement of the ratio of intensities of the D and G bands, the laser-in- duced spectral changes provide another way to determine the sidewall functionalization of carbon nanotubes. The laser-induced changes of the G and RBM bands are consistent with the greater sidewall reactivity of small metallic nanotubes toward functionalization with PTBA and reaction with photosensitized oxygen.